ALTAR SERVER LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST ABREVIATIONS USCCB = United States Conference of Catholic Bishops BISHOP = Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C. Bishop of Peoria PASTOR = Fr. Eugene Radosevich, Pastor of St. Luke, Eureka, IL DOL = Dictionary of the Liturgy GIRM = General Instruction of the Roman Missal CCC = Catechism of the Catholic Church I. LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST: The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the preparation of the gifts and the altar. As the ministers prepare the altar, representatives of the people bring forward the bread and wine that will become the Body and Blood of Christ. PASTOR: Bringing the Chalices to the Altar After the General Intercessions, with hands together, the two youth servers pass between the tabernacle and the altar; as they cross the center line of the altar, they both stop, bow deeply to the altar, and then approach the credence table. The first server picks up the two cups used for distributing the Precious Blood by their stems and places them on the right side of the altar toward the front of the altar. The second server picks up the chalice by reaching under the chalice veil with the right hand and holding onto the chalice by its stem and by putting the left hand on top of the burse. Hold the sacred vessels somewhat tightly as the paten is simply resting on the chalice. Place the chalice on the right side of the altar with the opening of the burse toward the tabernacle. If done correctly all three vessels should now be on the right side the altar as viewed from the sanctuary. DO NOT PUT THE CHALICE OR THE CUPS IN THE CENTER OF THE ALTAR. Both altar servers remain at the side of the altar ready to receive the burse and the chalice veil. The adult serves places the sacramentary on a book stand on the left side of the altar, bows to the altar and stands in the back by the credence table. PASTOR: Setting up the Altar - The priest or deacon will take the corporal out of the burse, hand the burse to one of the servers, and then open the corporal on the altar to catch any particles of the Eucharist that my fall off the consecrated hosts. NEVER SHAKE OUT A USED CORPORAL OVER THE ALTAR OR JESUS MAY END UP ON THE FLOOR! He will then remove the chalice veil from the chalice and hand the chalice veil Youth Altar Server Liturgy Of The Eucharist 2014-08-21 Page 1 of 6
to the other server. Both servers make a simple bow (i.e., of the head) and place the burse on the credence table with the veil folded nicely on top of it. PASTOR: Receiving the Gifts - Keeping their hands folded until the priest/deacon gives them one of the gifts, the adult server, followed by the youth servers, pass by the right side of the altar, step down onto the nave of the church, and stand to the right of the priest/deacon. Gifts should always be given to the priest first and never to any of the servers; so servers, keep your hands folded until the priest/deacon gives you one of the gifts. If done correctly, one youth servers will be given the water cruet, the other youth server will be given the wine cruet, the adult serve with have the money basket, and the priest/deacon will carry the ciboria. PASTOR: Bringing the Gifts to the Altar The server with the Wine should lead the way by: (1) stepping up into the sanctuary, (2) takes the top off of the wine cruet and places the top near the back edge of the credence table; and (3) stand next to the right side of the altar. The server with the water cruet follows in a similar manner standing to the left of the server who has the wine cruet. The adult server, steps up unto the sanctuary, and places the money basket on the gift stand next to the ambo, and then stands in back by the credence table with hands folded. ALWAYS HAND THE CRUET TO THE PRIEST/DEACON WITH THE HANDLE TOWARDS THE PRIEST/DEACON and the other hand on your chest. PASTOR: Washing the priest s hands When the priest/deacon is finished with both the water and the wine cruets, both servers make a simple bow (i.e., of the head), and return the cruets to the credence table. The server with the water cruet now holds onto the handle of the water cruet ready to pour out some water out of the cruet and with his/her other hand, he/she picks up the bowl and stands closets to the altar. The server with the wine cruet puts the stopper back into the wine cruet, and places the wine cruet towards the back edge of the credence table and picks up the towel. Standing to left of the server who is holding the water cruet and bowl, the server holds two corners of the towel ( i.e., on the short side) between the their thumbs and first fingers. The priest will extend his hands over the bowl. The server should slowly pour a stream of water onto the priest s hands and keep pouring slowly until the priest raises up his hands. The priest may attempt to dry his hands allowing the server to keep his/her four finger grasp on the towel while other priest may pull the towel out of your fingers, dry his hands, and then hand the towel back to you. Both servers make a simple Youth Altar Server Liturgy Of The Eucharist 2014-08-21 Page 2 of 6
bow (i.e., of the head) and place the water cruet, bowl and towel on the credence table. All of the servers should be standing at their places with hands folded. A. THE THANKSGIVING OR PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS: The thanksgiving (expressed especially in the Preface), in which the Priest, in the name of all of the people, glorifies God the Father and gives thanks to him for the whole work of salvation or for some particular aspect of it, according to the varying day, festivity, or time of year. B. EUCHARISTIC PRAYER OR CANON OF THE MASS 1. The acclamation, by which the whole congregation, joining with the heavenly powers, sings the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy). This acclamation, which constitutes part of the Eucharistic Prayer itself, is pronounced by all the people with the Priest. 2. THE EPICLESIS: During the first part of the Canon the priest extends both hands over the gifts and prays a prayer known as the Epiclesis: The prayer petitioning the Father to send the Holy Spirit to sanctify offerings of bread and wine so that they may become the Body and Blood of Christ. The bells are rung once at this time. GIRM 150: Bells...A little before the consecration, the server, when appropriate, a server rings a bell as a signal to the faithful. According to local custom, the server also rings the bell as the priest shows the host and then the chalice. Youth Altar Server Liturgy Of The Eucharist 2014-08-21 Page 3 of 6
3. THE IINSTITUTION NARRATIVE AND CONSECRATION: The Institution narrative and Consecration, by which, by means of the words and actions of Christ, that Sacrifice is effected which Christ himself instituted during the Last Supper, when he offered his Body and Blood under the species of bread and wine, gave them to the Apostles to eat and drink, and leaving with the latter the command to perpetuate this same mystery. 4. MYSTERY OF FAITH (ANAMNESIS): A prayer known as the anamnesis --from the Greek, meaning remembrance --is used to celebrates the memorial of Christ, recalling especially his blessed Passion, glorious Resurrection, and Ascension into heaven. 5. THE OBLATION (THE OFFERING ): The oblation, by which, in this very memorial, the Church, in particular that gathered here and now, offers the unblemished sacrificial Victim in the Holy Spirit to the Father. The Church's intention, indeed, is that the faithful not only offer this unblemished sacrificial Victim but also learn to offer their very selves, and so day by day to be brought, through the mediation of Christ, into unity with God and with each other, so that God may at last be all in all. 6. THE INTERCESSIONS: The intercessions, by which expression is given to the fact that the Eucharist is celebrated in communion with the whole Church, of both heaven and of earth, and that the oblation is made for her and for all her members, living and dead, who are called to participate in the redemption and salvation purchased by the Body and Blood of Christ. 7. DOXOLOGY: The concluding doxology, by which the glorification of God is expressed and which is affirmed and concluded by the people's acclamation "Amen." C. THE PREPARATORY RITE: The Preparatory rites, consisting of the Lord s Prayer, the Rite of Peace, and the Fraction, lead the faithful to Holy Communion (GIRM #80). Youth Altar Server Liturgy Of The Eucharist 2014-08-21 Page 4 of 6
1. THE LORD S PRAYER: The rite begins with the Lord's Prayer., the Our Father. 2. SIGN OF PEACE: The celebrant prays that the peace of Christ will fill our hearts, our families, our Church, our communities, and our world. As a sign of hope, the people extend to those around them a sign of peace. 3. LAMB OF GOD (FRACTION RITE): In the Fraction Rite, the celebrant breaks the consecrated bread as the people sing the Agnus Dei or "Lamb of God." The action of breaking the bread recalls the actions of Jesus at the Last Supper, when he broke the bread before giving it to his disciples. One of the earliest names for the Eucharistic celebration is the breaking of the bread. 4. PASTOR: After receiving Holy Communion the servers should kneel at their places and pray silently to the Eucharistic Lord. 5. COMMUNION: Before receiving Holy Communion, the celebrant and assembly acknowledge their unworthiness to receive so great a gift. The celebrant receives Holy Communion first and then the people come forward. Those who receive Holy Communion should be prepared to receive so great a gift. They should fast (except for medicines) for at least one hour before receiving the Eucharist and should not be conscious of having committed serious sin. Holy Communion is the reception of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. Youth Altar Server Liturgy Of The Eucharist 2014-08-21 Page 5 of 6
6. PASTOR: Purifying the Sacred Vessels When communion is finished, the ministers will return the chalice and cups to the altar and place them on the corporal. Both youth servers will stand close to the altar with the one closest to altar holding the water cruet with the handle facing the priest/deacon and the other server with holding the burse and chalice veil. The priest will use the water to purify the chalice and cups and hand the cruet back to the server. Once the priest has purified a cup he will set it on the right end of the altar near the corner. He will take the burse and the chalice veil from the server who will then pick up the cup (and purificator, if necessary). Both servers make a simple bow (i.e., of the head), put the items that they are holding onto the credence table, and return to the altar with hands folded. One server picks up the second communion cup by its stem while the other server picks up the chalice with one hand on the stem and the other hand on the top of the burse. Once again, both servers make a simple bow in unison and then place the items on the credence table. This time, however, all three servers stand between the altar and the tabernacle, make a profound bow (at the waist) to the altar and continue on to their chairs. The adult server may pick up the Sacramentary off of the Altar and have it ready for the Closing Prayer. If the priest sits down then all of the servers may sit, but if he remains standing then all remain standing. In general, a server NEVER sits when the priest is standing (except for the homily, and kneels during the Eucharistic Prayer and during communion). PASTOR: When the Hymn of Praise or a time of silence is completed, the priest will say Let us pray. This is the cue for the adult server hold the Sacramentary open for the priest. 7. PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION: The Communion Rite ends with the Prayer after Communion which asks that the benefits of the Eucharist will remain active in our daily lives. The Prayer after Communion expresses the Church s gratitude for the mysteries celebrated and received. Youth Altar Server Liturgy Of The Eucharist 2014-08-21 Page 6 of 6